NYC has too many scaffolds

It's a Christo installation.

I am sure a lot of it has to do with NYC Local Law 11. I don't know a lot of the specifics, but I believe that any building above 6 stories must have the facade inspected every 5 years. That inspection requires scaffolding.

Actually, the scaffolding is required after the inspection if anything turns up that needs fixing. Insurance requires it. And then the scaffold stays in place while a full assessment of the condition is made, contractors have to be selected, the project has to be bid to those contractors and one has to be awarded the work. Then the prep work for the project takes place and finally the actual work begins, then more inspections. Not at all unusual in this particular Local Law cycle (11) for a scaffold to be erected and stay for 2 years. And that's with a building moving ahead with deliberate speed. This cycle is also a very extensive one requiring "invasive" work. Some cycles simple repointing is okay--not this one. No patching allowed. Bricks and terracotta have to be removed and support beams inside the walls fixed if there is decay. Then the facade gets rebuilt. That's why so many buildings have blue tarps over gaping holes where bricks are gone during the process. It also all costs a fortune.

If looking to buy, by certain the building is already Local Law 11 compliant. You DO NOT want to get stuck with the mess, noise, scaffold and obstructed views, and cost the year after you move in!

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Once again, stupid NYC regulations make the city less attractive and more inconvenient. The city looks awful, with all this scaffolding covering up buildings and views. Half the city looks like a construction warzone. What a shame.

For your own safety and that of your fellow posters...

http://hoboken411.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/please-do-not-feed-the-hoboken-trolls.jpg

rufus - why do you spend your time bashing nyc on this website. You are the biggest debbie downer ever.
Let me guess, that comment will inspire a screed on why Second City is funnier than SNL.

Rufus, it's time to change your medication - & MOVE TO CHICAGO. Stop kvetchin', will ya?

I'm currently looking at 2-bedroom luxury condos in Chicago and will probably make the move in the next couple of months. I just think it's funny that new yorkers keep bashing Chicago even though they know almost nothing about it. I guess they feel a strong need to justify the outrageous cost of living here.

why are you taking so long?

Chicago is probably the ugliest large city I've visited in the United States. It's certainly one of those places you go once and you don't ever return.

And I really doubt you live in NYC, and if you do you're probably one of those burned out failures who couldn't advance in New York City so you take it out on the City.

Reminds me of one of my laid off empoloyees, actually.

chrisyslslr, if you think Chicago is ugly, you must have only stayed on the south or west side. if you went to lakeshore east, streeterville, river north, gold coast, lincoln park, or lakeview, you would know what i'm talking about.

it's funny that you think Chicago is "ugly" when NYC doesn't have alleys and still have garbage bags on street corners, and most of its buildings are old and worn down. LOL!

I don't get what is stupid about scaffolds? To preserve older buildings you have to maintain them. Local Law cycles help insure buildings are being maintained. Comparisons to Chicago seem bizarre to me. They have old buildings that get scaffolds, too. On top of that, Chicago is very spread out and in the great wastelands between neighborhoods are incredible swaths of urban blight and decay. The subway is among the most disgusting undergrounds I've ever seen. Downtown is stunning on the other hand with terrific architecture abounding. It lacks any of the edginess of NYC or a feeling of being in the center of the world, but it is nice and a great alternative to NYC if you had to pick one. But the scaffolding annoyance of rufus strikes me as just plain odd.